Musical therapy has many positive effects. (Miriam Doerr Martin Frommherz / Shutterstock.com)
Each day there are more discoveries and initiatives exploring the relationship between music and health. One such field is music therapy, which harnesses the positive effects of music and uses it to heal and empower individuals in need.
The UK-based music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins has been training music therapists and working on the ground since 1974. Music is used as a vehicle to improve physical health, address emotional or behavioral challenges and develop communication and social skills. The tool has also been found to boost self-esteem and confidence. Nordoff Robbins’ therapists work in day cares, hospitals, schools and at their own centers. Therapy varies per person and according to individual needs, including playing different instruments, movement, writing songs, singing, creating music-based stories and rehearsing and performing.
The Nordoff Robbins’ motto, “music transforms lives” shines through such care recipients as six-year old George who has autism, and before music therapy wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone or enter a room without his parents. Today, George has a passion for playing guitar, and thrives in group settings with other children. Similarly, Lance has schizophrenia and sees music as a pathway for him between states of illness and health saying, ““I feel that somehow music is holding my hand through all this.”
Nordoff Robbins is one of the many organizations using music to improve health and wellbeing - for people of all ages.
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